Aviation History Resources

For a broader understanding of the influence of Pan Am on aviation history and events of the twentieth century, link to this long list of Museums & History sites.

Authoritative Pan Am History Links

Ad* Access – Duke University. This online resource provides a fascinating look at some of still-compelling print advertising that was created by the J. Walter Thompson Company for their client, Pan American World Airways (as well as many other companies).

Aviation Library and Turpen Aviation Museum at SFO. Located in an architectural adaptation of San Francisco Airport's 1930s passenger lobby, this collection focuses on air transport with an emphasis on the West Coast and the Pacific region. Exhibitions, research services, and educational programs are offered to the public free of charge.

China Clipper. A private site providing a quick overview of Pan Am’s transpacific history, with some good graphics and photos.

Everything Pan Am. An excellent source for information about Pan Am, particularly as regards the material legacy of the World’s Most Experienced Airline. Presented with a personal perspective by someone who got to know the airline extremely well.

Flying Clippers. A fun and colorful site dedicated to the age of Pan American’s flying clippers, as well as a great place to find items for sale related to the age of the great flying boats.

Foynes Flying Boat Museum. Home of the world’s one-and-only extant Boeing B-314, which is an exquisitely re-created replica. Worthy of a visit online if you can’t make to Ireland just now.

Fredie Noonan. Gary LaPook has created a superb site that provides an excellent set of authoritative sources regarding aviation navigation, specifically as they relate to the final flight of Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, and includes his own studied opinions as well. Hawaii.

Hawaii Aviation @ Hawaii.gov. A comprehensive perspective on Hawaiian aviation, which includes information about Pan Am, as well as a great many other aviation companies and related history.

HistoryMiami. HistoryMiami houses the Pan American World Airways Collection with objects donated by the Pan Am Historical Foundation in 1995. A first-class historical resource for information about every aspect of history relating to Miami and Southern Florida, which of course includes Pan Am and aviation in general.

JBTransportation. A site maintained by Jamie Baldwin, an aviation consultant and serious student of aviation history. Baldwin has compiled an excellent series of articles on the history of Pan American World Airways. Well worth a visit.

Juan Trippe Links.The legacy of the Pan Am’s visionary leader is noted in a number places. Here we present some of the links you can follow to learn more.

Pacific Aviation Museum. View photos from the Pan Am exhibit, Come Fly With Me. This permanent installation traces the company's early years through the jet age.

Pan Am Clipper Flying Boats This site has attracted quite a few people with personal connections or questions about Pan Am’s flying boats. Always worth a visit!

San Francisco Aeronautical Society. This group of aviation professionals and enthusiasts supports the promotion of the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum at SFO, and has a particular focus on West Coast and Pacific aviation history.

SFO Museum. Ongoing and past exhibits and Library, with collections focused West Coast and Pacific aviation history.

Authoritative Sites on Aviation History & Science

Aeromarine Website. A kind of ancestor airline to Pan Am. Well done, including a very early picture of Ed Musick when he flew for them in the early 1920s.

Aircraft Engine Historical Society. A non-profit educational and historical society that fosters an appreciation of the people, art, and science associated with aircraft engine development, manufacture, and use. A wonderful resource for technical data about aviation.

Airlinerlist.com. Perhaps the most comprehensive source of information available about thousands of individual aircraft. Airliners.net. A vast repository of airline photos, including many of Pan Am aircraft.

Hiller Aviation Museum. The eponymous and excellent institution endowed by one of America's helicopter pioneers, Stan Hiller. Located a few miles south of San Francisco international airport, the museum has an excellent education department and a great collection of aircraft.

JonProcter.net. Jon’s carefully documented and exacting photographs have captured innumerable aircraft at LAX and New York’s international airports.

Tighar. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery is best known for the ongoing search for Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan. Whatever your take on their chances, you can find a wealth of fascinating information at their site.